Concurrent Sessions A: Dam Removal II - Simulation of Sediment Transport Upon Dam Removal

There are several sediment processes initiated when large dams are removed and predicting these processes is one of the most challenging aspects of dam removal. We discuss the general capabilities and limitations of analytical, one-dimensional (1D), and two-dimensional (2D) models to simulate the sediment processes that occur upon dam removal. An easy to apply analytical model that simulates movement of sediment accumulations provides a conceptual and general prediction of the deposition downstream. A 1D sediment transport model (SRH-1D) is verified against a laboratory experiment to demonstrate the ability to model an incising channel through a reservoir delta. While 1D models are useful, they require the specification of the erosion width as a function of flow and the 1D model cannot represent complex interactions with reservoir bathymetry. 2D models can more directly incorporate these effects and such a 2D model (SRH-2D) is used to simulation erosion during reservoir draw down